Phoolbasan Bai Yadav is an Indian social worker. She is the founder of ‘Maa Bamleshwari Janhitkari Samiti’, an NGO known for its work for the development of economically and socially backward women in Chhattisgarh.
Wiki/Biography
Phoolbasan Bai Yadav was born on Sunday, December 5, 1971 (49 years old in 2020) in Sukuldaihan, Dhangaon, Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius. She studied only till seventh grade as her parents could not afford school fees, uniforms and books and her father was against educating girls.
appearance
Eye color: Black
Hair color: Black
Family and caste
Parents and siblings
She was born into a socially backward family with inadequate economic resources. Phoolbasan Bai was born to Jhadiram Yadav and Sumitra Yadav. Her family ran a tea stall in the locality. She was the third of seven children of her parents; she has two brothers, Kanta Prasad Yadav and Shailendra Yadav, and four sisters, Kanti Yadav, Dhrupati Yadav, Sarasvati Yadav, and Chhavi Yadav.
Husband and children
She married Chandulal Yadav, a cowherd from Sukuldaihan village, when she was ten, and they had four children; she gave birth to her first child when she was fourteen.
Profession
Phoolbasan started her career as a social activist after she joined self-help groups in the area (Rajnandgaon). Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, she soon formed her own groups like Pragya Mahila Samooh, Kiraya Bhandar, Bazar Theka and set up ration shops (distributing food to people below the poverty line (BPL)). Later, she brought all the groups together and founded the NGO “Maa Bamleshwari Janhitkari Samiti” in 2001.
Logo of Maa Bamleshwari Janhitkari Samiti
Since then, the organization has reached out to 12,000 women’s self-help groups, reportedly with a total strength of over 200,000. By charging Rs 2 per head, the organization has amassed around Rs 25 crore. The groups under the organization work in areas related to health, education, sanitation and social reforms. The organization conducts regular polio vaccination clinics, runs schools and anganwadis, organizes child food programs, livelihood income programs for women, and campaigns against child marriages. The organization has also adopted 54 children and is active across Chhattisgarh. It has launched social movements like Sharab Bandh (through which they claim to have closed 250 liquor shops in the state), Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, and has prepared 20,000 soakaway pits for rainwater collection in the region.
Maa Bamleshwari Janhitkari Samiti Nasha Bandh Event
Awards and Honors
- Chhattisgarh State Minimata Alankaran Award 2004
- Jamnalal Bajaj Award 2004
Phoolbasan Bai Yadav receives Jamnalal Bajaj Award
- Zee TV Astithva Award 2008 from Zee Entertainment Enterprises
Phoolbasan Bai Yadav wins Zee TV Astithva Award
- Kannagi Sthree Shakti Award from the Government of India in 2010
Phoolbasan Bai Yadav wins Kannagi S Three Shakti Award
- Sadhguru Nanananda National Award 2010
Phoolbasan Bai Yadav receives Sadguru Gnanananda National Award
- 2011 Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award (Social Service) (Ammodini Award)
- Padma Shri 2012
Phoolbasan Bai Yadav awarded Padma Shri
- The Chhattisgarh government appointed her as the brand ambassador for the Janani Suraksha Yojana maternity scheme
- Mahavir Foundation Award 2014
- National Best in Show Award sponsored by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
Phoolbasan Bai Yadav wins National Award for Best Performance from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
- Women Empowerment Award from Union Bank of India
Phoolbasan Bai Yadav receives award from Union Bank of India
Facts/Trivia
- In her efforts to change the lives of women in Chhattisgarh, she faced many problems, including her husband, who used violence to stop her from going out and coming home late at night. However, over time, he came to understand her and started supporting Phoolbasan’s work.
- She came into limelight after she participated in the ‘Women’s Olympics’ competition organised by the district administration and won first prize.
- According to Purbasan, her organization had already made 50 villages in Chhattisgarh open defecation-free long before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Clean India campaign.
- Phoolbasan has also been appointed as a member of the Chhattisgarh State Planning Commission and the Chhattisgarh Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. She is also the brand ambassador of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
- In memory of Phoolbasan Yadav, the NGO Maa Bamleshwari Janhitkari Samiti has produced a documentary film ‘Kahaani Phulbhasan Ki’.
- In 2020, Dr. Arvind Yadav wrote and published a book based on Purbasan’s life titled Purbasan Yadav: Fearless, Fierce, Poised.
- She is also a mentor at the Vision India Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing about systemic, long-term reforms by studying national public policies, governance, and institutional frameworks.
- She has participated in various seminars to convey her message to women and share her story. She is also a TEDx speaker and speaks at many events.
Phoolbasan Yadav is a TEDx speaker
- In 2020, Phoolbasan appeared in the Karamveer Special of Kaun Banega Crorepati hosted by Amitabh Bachchan along with actress Renuka Shahane.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education